The Hawthornes Collaborate On Lunch.

When I inventoried my freezers the other week, I found this UFO - that's Unidentified Frozen Object. It would have been so simple to write down the date and contents but some people just don't follow protocol. That's why I'm having to inventory the freezers in the first place.

I'm pretty much sure this is some ground beef we bought on sale. Sometimes we patty them up and sometimes we leave big chunks like this for a quick spaghetti or Mexican meal. Anyways, we went from this frozen chunk ...

... to this, our lunch, in about 20 minutes.

Mr. Hawthorne fried up the meat, fine-chopping as he cooked.

Mr. Hawthorne has been known to SandraLee his meals. Here, he's adding a taco seasoning packet from one of the taco dinner meal packages. If you don't have a seasoning packet, which I certainly hope you don't, use a combination of freshly ground salt and pepper, onion powder, granulated garlic, cumin, cayenne, and oregano. Mr. Hawthorne added a few tablespoons of water to moisten the meat.

While the meat was cooking, I fried up the tortillas.

Drain on paper towels.

Toppings are assembled: chopped onion chopped tomatoes shredded lettuce pickled jalapeno slices grated cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses

I started building my tostada, with the seasoned beef, onions, japs, and tomatoes.

A little Mexican crumbling cheese - Queso Fresco.

Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Under the broiler until cheese is bubbly and melted.

Sprinkle shredded lettuce, more chopped onion and tomato, and cilantro over top.

Lunch. In twenty minutes.